Utilising inclusive books at all key stages is an effortlessly accessible way for teachers to engage young people with LGBTQ+ content through the language and literacy framework; a framework that already exists through story time in all primary schools throughout the UK. 

Tapping into these existing practices is a very useful strategy for creating change, as it mitigates against inclusion being delivered as a stand-alone lesson or a tick box exercise. Ideally, schools are aiming for gender, gender identity and sexual orientation to be embedded in an intersectional way throughout all year groups and subject areas. 

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Young people have grown up with LGBTQ+ celebrities, characters in soaps, stories in the media and with LGBTQ+ members within their own families. \nThe perception of difficult conversations about differences can make it hard to find the right starting point. Books such as \nABC Pride\n are powerful tools to increase confidence in the areas of inclusive language; how to question, how to answer, and how to use inclusive illustrations to accelerate the learning. 

How to develop a curriculum that reflects our communities 

Not only can the book help with learning the alphabet, the illustrations can be used  to prompt conversations about race, gender, marriage, civil partnerships, sexual orientation, adoption and more, encouraging young people to talk freely about these topics. 

A key strategy when researching literature for home and the classroom is to look for an eclectic mix of books that illustrate a variety of:\nPeople from different classes\nPeople with different body sizes and shapes \nPeople with visible and/or non-visible disabilities\nFamily units\nFaiths, religions and beliefs\nCultures, races and nationalities\nGender identities\nSexual Orientations \nNeurological differences \n\nCheck to see if you are reflecting your community and more. Is your choice of resources shaping the learning by only representing one point of view?\nMany subject areas are littered with misinterpretations, it is imperative as educators to identify who is missing from the conversation.

How to review your literature and resources

All subject areas can be LGBTQ+ inclusive. Here are a few examples:\nScience\n: Hormones, chromosomes, gender, gender identities, intersex biologies, different ways of having a family \nComputing\n: Binary numbers and codebreaking \nMusic\n: Trans and non-binary musicians and cultural influences \nGeography\n: The migration of LGBTQ+ people, laws in different countries\nD&T\n: Gender neutral toy packaging\nMFL\n: The changing landscape of gender within languages \nMaths\n: Using LGBTQ+ data for equations, fractions and scatter diagrams\nP.E.\n: Mixed sports, all genders having access to all sports, accessibility for trans, non-binary and intersex athletes\n\nQuick wins for your own classroom:\nHave an Equity, Diversity & Inclusion statement on your wall that outlines that we all respect each other. Maybe use the protected characteristics from The Equality Act 2010 as a starting point. This is a very useful tool to support you in challenging discriminatory language and behaviours as they arise. \nUse gender-free language to address your class: for example, ‘Good morning, Year 6’\nHead pupils rather than head boy or head girl\nUse non gendered ways to line up your class or how you arrange your seating plans\nUse inclusive books and resources that highlight a range of histories\n

Delivering an inclusive curriculum

‘\nMy eyes and ears are open to new genres, authors, family units and the diversity of our own communities’. 
⁠\n—Lead Educate & Celebrate teacher in a primary school\n\n‘\nWe’ve found common ground with language; teachers are more aware and feel more confident in entering conversations with young people – it feels like we are now on the journey to getting everyone on the same page whereas before staff were very fearful’. 
⁠\n—Lead Educate & Celebrate Teacher in a secondary school \n\n‘There is better visibility in our school. The PRIDE Youth Network has allowed people to be more open about their identity, people are free to be who they are. Staff are excited about the suggestions we make and try to help with our initiatives’  
⁠\n—Year 10 pupil\n\n'The students were able to call teachers out about how they dealt with derogatory language. In the classroom, when it was happening, the teachers would behave differently to how they had before. One of my groups wrote a lesson plan to deliver to teachers which included what the effects of hearing homophobic, biphobic and transphobic language in the classroom could be, and I think that was very effective'. 
⁠\n—Lead Educate & Celebrate Teacher in a Sixth Form\n\nThe more teachers and parents can present resources that incorporate all cultures, experiences and perspectives, the more we can frame the world as it is for our children, to ensure this generation will go on to build a future of inclusion and social justice. \nGo to \nEducate & Celebrate\n for guidance, resources, research, posters, book collections and much more to see how you can get involved with leading on \nEquity, Diversity & Inclusion\n in your school. 

The results of an inclusive curriculum

A vibrant and inclusive first ABC book that introduces young readers aged 3+ to Pride. A is for Acceptance! B is for Belonging! C is for Celebrate! ABC Pride introduces young readers to the alphabet through the colourful world of Pride. Children can discover letters and words in a fun and engaging way, while also learning more about the LGBTQIA+ community and how to be inclusive. Every letter of the alphabet is paired with bold illustrations to support language learning, and a handy list of discussion points at the end gives adults the appropriate tools to spark further conversations and discussion around the topic. ABC Pride offers a simple yet powerful way to explain gender, identity, and ability to young children, while introducing and supporting diverse family units. An ideal book for little learners to explore together with a caregiver, as well as in a classroom environment. Whilst exploring this vibrant alphabet book, young learners can discover: - Bold, full colour illustrations to captivate the attention of early learners - Lyrical text for each letter ideal for reading aloud - Informative, accessible and easy-to-understand for young readers - Includes discussion questions to inspire further reading and conversations A must-have book for caregivers looking to diversify a child's literary collection, as well as gift givers for new LGBTQIA+ caregivers alike, ABC Pride marries the classic ABC learning format with modern and inclusive definitions and explanations, making this the perfect introduction to understanding concepts and language associated with the LGBTQIA+ community. With 2022 marking the 50th anniversary of the first Pride march in the UK, there's no better time to introduce young children to the colourful world of Pride.

ABC Pride

\n\nEducate & Celebrate has collated LGBTQ+ book collections for Early Years, Primary, Secondary and Colleges since its inception. We do this to support schools to diversify their curriculum, to provide a recommended reading list and to engage school communities with LGBTQ+ authors, characters and stories. 

Why LGBTQ+ books and resources are key to developing an intersectional curriculum at all levels

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